Shloka 30
अर्जुनकर्णसंनिपातवर्णनम् / The Convergence of Arjuna and Karṇa
यः पर्युपासीत् प्रदिशो दिशश्नव त्वां सूतपुत्र: समरे परीप्सन् | दित्सु: कर्ण: समरे हस्तिषड्गवं स हीदानीं कड्कपत्रैः सुतीक्षणै:
yāḥ paryupāsīt pradīśo diśaś caiva tvāṃ sūtaputraḥ samare parīpsan | ditsūḥ karṇaḥ samare hastisaḍgavaṃ sa hīdānīṃ kaṅkapatraiḥ sutīkṣṇaiḥ śaraiḥ, arjuna, samaraṅgaṇe tvayā hataḥ pṛthivyāṃ śete kim ||
Sinabi ni Yudhiṣṭhira: “Si Karṇa, anak ng tagapagmaneho ng karwahe—na sa labanan ay nilibot ang bawat dako at mga pagitan ng mga dako upang hanapin ka, at nangakong magbibigay ng gantimpalang anim na baka na kasinglaki ng elepante sa sinumang makapagtuturo kung nasaan ka—O Arjuna, ang masamang taong iyon ba ngayon ay nakahandusay sa lupa, napatay mo sa larangan ng digmaan sa pamamagitan ng iyong mga palasong kasingtalim ng labaha, na may balahibo ng tagak (heron-feathers)? Sa pagpatay mo sa anak ng tagapagmaneho ng karwahe ngayong araw sa digmaan, natupad mo para sa akin ang isang gawaing pinakamamahal.”
युधिषछ्िर उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse highlights the moral complexity of wartime duty: a long-feared adversary who relentlessly sought Arjuna is finally brought down, and Yudhiṣṭhira frames the act as the completion of a ‘most dear task.’ It reflects how dharma in war can be experienced as necessary yet emotionally charged—relief and fulfillment mixed with the gravity of killing.
After Karṇa’s fall, Yudhiṣṭhira addresses Arjuna, recalling Karṇa’s earlier pursuit across all directions and his promised reward to anyone who could reveal Arjuna’s whereabouts. He asks whether that same Karṇa now lies slain on the battlefield by Arjuna’s sharp, feather-fletched arrows, and declares that Arjuna has accomplished a deeply desired objective for him.